Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with gratitude and humility as I conclude my service to New York's 19th Congressional District. Representing the people of upstate New York in this historic Chamber has truly been the honor of a lifetime.

This journey has been guided by the values, aspirations, and resilience of the families, farmers, and small businesses that are the backbone of our district, from the Massachusetts-New York border, across the Hudson River Valley, through the Catskill Mountains, to central New York, and into the Southern Tier.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the people of this amazing upstate New York District for their trust, their support, and their unwavering belief in me. Representing them was never just a job; it was a deeply personal mission.

Their faith in me inspired every decision we made, every vote cast, every moment spent advocating for our shared future.

Together, we focused on what truly matters: delivering results for the people and places that make our district extraordinary, and we met challenges head-on.

Together, we tackled the fentanyl and mental health crisis, securing Federal funding to expand stabilization centers in Broome and Sullivan Counties. These efforts remind us that no one should have to face their struggles alone. We championed the ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative on the national stage, breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for individuals with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities and creating new opportunities for employment, education, and social services.

We worked to safeguard the Hudson River, preserve farmland, and protected our most precious natural resources for generations to come. Amid inflation and border crises, we sought solutions that would make a tangible difference for everyday Americans. Through tireless bipartisan collaboration, we passed over 40 pieces of legislation, earning recognition as New York's most bipartisan lawmaker.

This work was only possible because of the extraordinary team we assembled, individuals whose dedication and heart I will not soon forget.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my chief of staff, Jeff Bishop; deputy chief of staff, Dan Kranz; district director, Caitlin Daly; legislative director, Connor Torossian; scheduler, Maddie Bruno; legislative assistants, Kaitlyn Mullen and Doug Gordon; legislative correspondent, Nick Urbin; field representatives, Nicole Leonard and Alex Horton; constituent caseworkers, Michelle Speach and Sean Lisk; press assistant, Hannah Benfield; outreach coordinator, Ciano Briga; constituent services representative, Ben Straebler; staff assistant, Noelle Dana; and other members of team Molinaro: Jessica Akshar, Caroline Doxsee, Tyler Gutchess, Alex Holderith, Kate McKan, Maddy Minahan, and Rick Yackel for their hard work and selfless dedication. It has been the cornerstone of all of our achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I say to my colleagues and friends who serve and represent the State of New York, Republicans and Democrats alike, their friendship and support has been so gratifying, and it has been a pleasure these last 30 years to work with most of them.

Finally, let me thank my family. My wife, Corinne, is a superhero, filled with strength, love, and patience, and I am grateful to her and my children: Abigail, Jack, Elias, and Theo, each amazing and accepting and wonderful in their own special way. I am thankful to my mother, Dona, who instilled in us a desire to pursue truth, work hard, and serve others.

They are all my foundation, my heart, my greatest source of strength. They stood side by side with me every step of the way, and this journey was ours together. I am endlessly grateful for their love and sacrifice.

As my time in Congress comes to an end, let me be very clear: Public service is not just something I do; it is who I am. From America's youngest mayor to Congressman serving upstate New York, this for me is not a good-bye. It is the start of a new chapter. I will continue to fight for the values we share, advocate for the communities we love, and work tirelessly to make our country better, stronger, and more united.

Perhaps I will be blessed with the opportunity to again serve here in this most fundamentally American deliberative House.

Mr. Speaker, let me conclude by thanking the people of New York's 19th Congressional District, upstate New York, for the privilege of serving them. May God continue to bless them, upstate New York, and the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 4107) to require Amtrak to report to Congress information on Amtrak compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with respect to trains and stations.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on S. 4107.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to stand again in support of my bill, the Think Differently Transportation Act, as it returns to the floor after minor amendments that were made in the Senate.

After passing this bill today, the bill will head to the President's desk to be signed into law. This bill is one of several initiatives that passed the House to build off of the work I began as Dutchess County executive in New York State, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative.

This was a call to action to create a supportive and welcoming environment for those living with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. The Think Differently Transportation Act does just that.

The bill requires that Amtrak submit to Congress and the President an annual report with an expected timeline for bringing Amtrak trains and stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Amtrak stations and trains should be fully accessible to all Americans with disabilities and of every ability, and fully compliant, of course, with Federal law.

Mr. Speaker, the ADA was passed in 1990 and established a 20-year timeframe for intercity rail stations to be accessible to those with disabilities. As of July 2023, sadly, Amtrak has only brought 30 percent of their 385 stations that they are responsible for into ADA compliance. Of course, this is unacceptable, and it is the reason that this bill is necessary.

The Think Differently Transportation Act is strongly supported by Republicans and Democrats, and it allows Congress to have the appropriate oversight of Amtrak to ensure it complies with its obligations under the law. The bill is a big step forward that Congress can take to address accessibility barriers to traveling by rail.

I certainly thank Senator Duckworth for taking up the bill and her support in the Senate and, of course, working to ensure its adoption there.

Mr. Speaker, I urge strong support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, first, let me extend my appreciation to my colleague for his support and cosponsorship of the legislation.

I, too, wish to extend our prayers and love to the family of Donald Payne, but I also am grateful for Representative Payne's leadership on this very issue.

As I mentioned, this is an important opportunity for the disability community to ensure that the barriers that they face to accessing Amtrak trains and stations are taken down.

When I first came to Congress, I actually couldn't believe that Amtrak hadn't adequately met the ADA requirements as Congress had previously mandated, and so we immediately got to work on this very piece of legislation.

It is certainly gratifying to see the bill now about to become law because it addresses injustices for those with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities when they travel by train.

As this might be one of the last times I speak before the House, Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my appreciation to Members on both sides of the aisle. There are so many individuals with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities, like my very own daughter, who have yet to have been granted full access to the quality of life that so many others get to enjoy.

If Congress can continue to take incremental and, in some cases, bold steps to break down barriers and create opportunities for those of every ability, we can truly ensure that the rights, privileges, and opportunities that are granted and protected by this House, our Constitution, and this very government are extended to those too often overlooked. Those living with disabilities face some of the greatest challenges of any American, and we ought to find new ways to break down those barriers and create opportunities for them.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend (Mr. Guthrie) for his leadership on the Energy and Commerce Committee in support of this legislation. I certainly look forward to his leadership in the 119th Congress.

Mr. Speaker, this is the first bill I introduced when I came to the House of Representatives. As noted, I am the parent of four children, one of whom lives with a disability. My wife and I have navigated the Medicaid supported system like every other American, and it is confusing, it is burdensome, it is bureaucratic, and many times, it is just too difficult to find your way to Medicaid-supported services.

Let me assure you, there is always a waiting list, and most families around America with individuals that they care for with the intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities, don't have the time to find their way to local service providers and certainly don't always know the ins and outs of accessing those services.

It becomes a full-time job. That is why, by the way, most families that are caring for those individuals with disabilities don't have two parents working, and many rely on Medicaid for much broader support like SNAP benefits and other subsidies and social services because they just can't find their way to services and supports.

It is actually one of the last, in some ways, great prejudices in America, the bias of low expectation. The feeling that certain people can't achieve certain things because we perceive they can't based on their abilities and, sadly, accessing even the robust services supported by Federal and State governments through Medicaid is just insufficient.

This bill builds on the initiative I began in local government in Dutchess County, New York. Our ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative was a call to action. It was meant to break down barriers and create opportunities for all those of every ability.

In fact, if you go to thinkdifferently.net, you will see the county- level version of what this bill seeks to create. This bill requires HHS to create a database of all resources available to individuals of every ability and their caregivers in a searchable format.

The bill will now expand the county-level programs that we created to a Federal level for Americans of every ability.

Again, I thank incoming chairman, Mr. Guthrie, but also Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers and her staff at Energy and Commerce for working with me and my staff over the past year to make this bill a reality and hopefully find its way into law.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to ask my colleagues to support the bill. I am grateful to Representative Sherrill and, of course, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for embracing this much-needed next step. It is a minor step, but one that is necessary.

I can't, for me, think of any better way to close my service in the 118th Congress than passing what had become and is my top priority, this piece of legislation, which sets forth to break down barriers and create opportunities for everyone of every ability.

Mr. Speaker, I first extend my appreciation to Chairman Sam Graves not only for leadership of the committee this last year but also for working with us to move this piece of legislation.

Amtrak was certainly hesitant to disclose their bonuses that came immediately after the COVID pandemic and the stress and stressors on commuters, passengers, and employees. The fact that we had to work, despite the significant taxpayer subsidies, to have them disclose this information was obscene at best.

I, too, want to take a moment, though, since I have 5 minutes, to express my appreciation and gratitude to

Representative Garret Graves as well. I truly join, I think, a chorus of individuals who recognize not only his leadership but his diligence and hard work on behalf of not only his constituents but certainly this country as a whole. He certainly has made Congress just a little bit better for the American people, and I am grateful for his friendship and support.

I would note he is unofficially my mentor. I am not quite sure what it is I have learned from him. Nevertheless, I have learned quite a bit, and I am grateful for it.

I join him certainly today standing in support of my bill, the Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act. This bill is rooted in basic transparency and accountability.

As noted, in 2023, Amtrak awarded over $5 million in executive bonuses despite a $1.7 billion loss and $11 billion in taxpayer subsidies.

No business in the world, certainly not in this country, would extend those kinds of bonuses with those kinds of losses, as I noted, in the immediate aftermath of the COVID pandemic. These bonuses rightfully sparked outrage not only from passengers and constituents but Members of Congress and the hardworking employees who keep Amtrak running for Americans.

Those employees are represented by unions who join in opposition. They include SMART-TD and the Transport Workers Union, each calling these payouts exorbitant and an affront to taxpayers. I think all of us might have stronger words than that. TWU has not only endorsed the bill but certainly wishes, on behalf of their employees, to see continued expansion of transparency and accountability.

Overall, I oppose the bonuses. If we could claw them back, I would. I am hopeful this legislation might demand the opportunity for the board of directors to take a pause and be more respectful to taxpayers and perhaps Congress to take action subsequent to their issuing these bonuses.

Transparency should never be optional, certainly when it comes to taxpayer-subsidized programming, especially when it comes to Amtrak and the significant amount of public funds.

My bill seeks to ensure that Amtrak publicly discloses executive bonuses annually, empowering taxpayers to see exactly where their money goes.

This legislation puts passengers, workers, and taxpayers first. It is simply about fairness, accountability, and earning back the public trust.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Omer Neutra who deferred his enrollment at Binghamton University in my district to join the Israel Defense Forces. He had been missing since October 7, 2023, in the barbaric attacks committed against Israel and Israeli citizens by Hamas.

After fighting for over a year for his return, his parents received the news no parent should ever hear: Omer was killed on October 7 by Hamas terrorists.

The monsters who did this, and, yes, they are monsters, are still out there. We are not done fighting. With our support, Israel will overcome Hamas and win its war, and at home we will win our war against anti- Semitism.

We will win by shining a light on bigotry and calling out those who sympathize with terrorists, the people who, while Omer's family lived in agony, stood on college campuses hurling insults at Jewish students and leading anti-Semitic chants like ``from the river to the sea.''

Our hearts and prayers go out to Omer's family, his friends, and the Binghamton campus. His life and memory will forever be a blessing, and the pain he endured will be motivation to keep fighting for justice.

Mr. Speaker, today, I stand before you to recognize the remarkable community destination, Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard. A pillar of upstate New York and a landmark in the Cooperstown area, Fly Creek Cider Mill has been providing incredible, one-of-a-kind touring and tasting experiences since 1856.

Small family-owned businesses like this make upstate New York the heart of family traditions. The mill creates apple wines and hard ciders from 100 percent New York state grown apples, and visitors can experience the cider making process through the mill's most recent Learning Center. A testament to local cuisine, Mill Store Marketplace is the heart of

activity offering more than 150 specialty food products made on site. As a result of years of hard work and dedication, USA Today recognized Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard as the No. 1 best cidery in the U.S. for 2024. Passed down for three generations in the Michaels family, this honor is well deserved and a testament to the orchard's historic legacy.

Visitors experience the delicious food and drinks, the welcoming hospitality, and the family-oriented culture in every trip. Fly Creek Cider Mill is truly special to the community, and it is important we honor and recognize their legacy and continued growth.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in celebrating Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard as a pillar of Cooperstown that deserves to continue to be enjoyed and cherished by families and generations to come.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support and speak briefly on my amendment, which seeks to highlight the importance of protecting our wildland firefighters by considering strategies to mitigate health risks to them.

As we witness the increasing devastation caused by wildfires across our country, we cannot and should not overlook the heroic efforts of those brave men and women who fight them. They risk their lives on the front lines, protect their communities and natural landscapes, facing extreme danger in unpredictable environments, and often working long hours in extremely hazardous conditions.

Unfortunately, though, there are times that their protection and well-being can be seen as an afterthought. I extend my appreciation to the gentleman from California (Mr. Harder) for his work on this amendment. Our bipartisan amendment seeks to consider strategies that would enhance wildland firefighter safety in the fireshed assessment.

Providing Federal assistance to States to augment these plans will only reduce wildfire exposure risks. As a member of my own local fire department, I too understand the great sacrifice that too many certainly make on our behalf. Addressing firefighter safety is not something we can do in isolation. It requires cooperation from all levels of government.

Our amendment is just one step forward. We need to continue to push for bipartisan solutions that prioritize the safety of wildland firefighters, and this is a fight that transcends, of course, party lines because the lives of those brave men and women who fight the fires and their safety are at stake.

I express my appreciation to Chairman Westerman and Representative Harder for their work on this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate my colleague's support for our amendment.

Mr. Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman).

Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful that my Think Differently about Education Act has come to the floor today.

This builds off of an initiative we launched in my home county about a decade ago. We launched the ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative as a means of embracing every one of every ability, creating a community that is more welcoming and supportive. The focus has been to break down barriers and create opportunities for those with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities.

ThinkDIFFERENTLY is simply a call to action. This bill, the Think Differently about Education Act, builds on the success of that ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative.

This bill requires that public schools, K-12, notify parents of a child with a disability about their right to a third-party advocate in IEP meetings. Individualized education program plans are a document that outlines the educational needs of children with a disability, tailored specifically for them in coordination with the school, the parent or guardian, and the child.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, commonly known as IDEA, requires public schools to develop an IEP plan for every student with a disability. IDEA also entitles that the child and parent are able to bring a third-party advocate to the IEP meeting. However, in most cases, sadly, parents are unaware of their rights. Because of that, CSE meetings are conducted without parents knowing what resources, support, and educational opportunities might be available to their children.

In many cases, this leaves parents and guardians who are not always familiar with IDEA and everything that should be included in an IEP confused and, sadly, left out, their children losing great opportunity, which is also often self-interested. Many times, school districts are focused on financial benefits instead of providing the direct benefits of a quality and full education to those with disabilities.

Now, I know this firsthand as the parent of a child with a disability. While my daughter, Abigail, now 20 years old, continues to benefit from quality education in our home school district, too many families like ours have had to navigate this system without the knowledge of and partnership of a third-party advocate.

My bill would ensure that parents are fully aware of their rights to bring a third-party advocate to an IEP meeting to ensure that their child is getting the most comprehensive and disability-specific IEP plan possible.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very basic, commonsense bill that builds on the need to ensure that every one of every ability has their right to pursue a fulfilled life, a pursuit of happiness.

For those living with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities, far too often, they are restrained and restricted from doing so because they are not provided the broad access to a quality education.

In this case, we simply remind school districts that parents have the right to have a third party standing beside them navigating that system, and in the end, I think more individuals with disabilities will attain the education opportunities they so deserve.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, for our entire history as a nation, our colleges and universities have been the example for other countries. Why? Because historically this Nation has ensured that colleges and institutions of higher learning have been places where we have embraced and encouraged critical thought.

We have embraced and accepted differences in thought, and we have tried to ensure that the individual rights enshrined in the Constitution inherent to each of us are protected in these places of higher learning.

Yet, over the course of the last year and a half, we have seen a consistent effort to attempt to silence one set of views. In fact, having traveled all across the State of New York for most of my adult life, I can tell you the SUNY college system has been a model of great institutions meant to bring people from different backgrounds and different experiences together not to be indoctrinated in a school of thought but, rather, to engage in critical thought.

Yet, over the last year and a half, we have seen consistently one set of thoughts, one set of beliefs being silenced in order to embrace another ideology or agenda. It isn't what our colleges and universities were about.

The End Woke Higher Education Act, importantly, seeks to uphold Americans' constitutional rights and restore diversity of thought and viewpoints at colleges without forcing a single perspective.

Part of the bill prohibits public colleges from asking or encouraging faculty and students to make a statement of personal belief in support of an ideology or movement that promotes the wrongful treatment of individuals. Imagine in 2024 having to even state that, yet here we are.

My amendment adds to this prohibition by taking it one step further. This says that public colleges cannot promote the wrongful treatment of individuals on the basis of religion.

Of course, this should be common sense; and, by the way, every institution should seek to protect individual students and faculty's freedom to express their faith as they see fit. Yet, unfortunately, over the past year we have seen far too many ugly events on college campuses incited and emboldened both by faculty and students allowed to impose their will and their beliefs in an intolerant and hostile way on others.

Just this week at Cornell University in my own district, a member of the faculty who spoke favorably about the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel was recently taken off leave. This individual recently taken off leave was brought back to full employment in the classroom.

I have met with college students, Jewish students, who simply want a safe place to learn, yet they feel marginalized because of the imposition of someone else's will in an intolerant and inexcusable way.

How are Jewish students supposed to feel when a professor who openly supports a terrorist attack against, in fact, some of their own family? How are they supposed to feel?

Colleges are to be the place where students are safe to learn and grow, to flourish in their own beliefs and even, I would offer, challenge their beliefs. When colleges don't provide this protection, yes, it is important that we remind folks that they all must uphold and protect the constitutional right to freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression.

My amendment simply seeks to strengthen the bill in chief by ensuring one's religious beliefs are not held against them nor is one's religious beliefs imposed on someone else as a doctrine or a statement that is necessary for employment or joining as a student.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues' support of the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, my colleague knows I respect him greatly. I know that he and I appreciate the expression of our faith in the way that we choose to do so. I don't think there is any confusion here at all. The beauty of this body is that when confronted with new challenges that face Americans, we are to debate them, consider them, and then apply reason as to establishing new policy.

I will address one comment. This is not some unnecessary last-minute thought. We have seen over the last 2 years hatred in the most vile form: intimidation, intolerance, violence committed against Jewish students, Jewish faculty. In my own district, threats of death against Jewish students, Jewish students locked in buildings, not being able to exercise not only their faith or participate in their education process overall.

This isn't last minute, and it certainly isn't unnecessary. It is timely, it is necessary, and it is appropriate. It also, by the way-- perhaps to weaken my argument only slightly--goes both ways. This is an effort to ensure that nobody can impose a standard on one or the other. I ask for support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I rise today not only to support this legislation, but let's also clarify for a moment: My colleague across the aisle suggested that it is time to get real. Law enforcement has been trusted in our communities to do their jobs and provide for public safety without Federal or State interference for years. Sanctuary city policies are actually handcuffing local law enforcement and precluding them from intervening in protecting American citizens. Sanctuary city policies keep local law enforcement from even being able to interact with Federal law enforcement, therefore making it impossible for them to do their jobs.

My colleague across the aisle said it is time to get real. The overwhelming number of illegal immigrants being transported to cities and States like New York is not at the hands of Governors of States, but of the Federal Government. I know this because, as a county executive, I saw it firsthand. In fact, it was imposed on my community and my law enforcement.

Since President Biden took office, over 11 million individuals have entered our country illegally. In the State of New York, because of sanctuary city policies, Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams have allowed for the transport of migrants--apparently, that is okay if Democratic mayors do it--to cities, communities, motels, and hotels throughout upstate New York.

One of my colleagues referred to the so-called crime committed by illegal immigrants. We are not suggesting that everyone who comes to this country commits a crime, but we are suggesting that when we interface with an illegal immigrant who does, in fact, break the law, law enforcement should be able to do its job and interact with Federal officials and, ultimately, arrest and deport individuals who break the law.

We know that this has occurred in our State. Just 1 month ago, a Peruvian serial killer wanted for 23 murders was arrested at the southern border, released based on the current administration's policy, and then transported to New York.

I don't think Governor Abbott drove him there. Instead, it is likely the Federal Government and our tax dollars brought him to New York, where he was arrested, living in Endicott, New York.

In another instance, an illegal immigrant raped and strangled a woman in Delaware County, New York. This individual committed a heinous act while out on bail for raping another woman, thanks to New York City's sanctuary city policy and cashless bail. This crime could have been prevented but was not.

At what point does the State of New York recognize that this is a crisis of their own making? No one will lose a dollar if States like New York and cities like New York would abandon sanctuary city policies and allow local law enforcement to do their jobs.

At times, I come here and it feels as if we are in some sort of version of the Wizard of Oz. Pay no attention to the crisis of our making. Look, over there--Project 2025. Pay no attention to the crimes being committed. Look, over there--an offensive tweet.

To my colleagues, it is very simple: Law enforcement can do its job well, and we ought to demand accountability from States that preclude them from protecting American citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I too rise in support of the Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act. Since President Biden took office, over 11 million individuals have come into this country illegally. Hundreds of thousands of these illegal immigrants have come to New York State.

Thanks to sanctuary city policies established both in the city of New York and in the State of New York, the Governor of New York allowed the mayor of the city to transport illegal immigrants to hotels and motels across upstate New York, forcing Democrats and Republicans to take executive action to block this action.

Just in the past year alone, upstate New York has seen several heinous crimes committed against women by illegal immigrants.

To name just a few, in June, a Turkish migrant raped a 14-year-old girl in Albany after attacking her inside her vehicle.

A migrant from Ecuador suffocated a woman in Syracuse on her 21st birthday and then hid her body in a community park.

In Delaware County, New York, an illegal immigrant raped and strangled a

woman. To make matters worse, this illegal immigrant was out on Governor Hochul's cashless bail for previously raping someone.

One instance of a woman being raped or assaulted should be enough and should have been enough for President Biden and Vice President Harris to take executive action to close the border.

The Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act will ensure that these evil individuals, these criminals, are arrested and deported.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill so that we can remove any illegal immigrant who commits awful crimes against women.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize September 2024 as Sepsis Awareness Month. We honor individuals who have been affected by sepsis and pledge unwavering support and recognition of the diagnosis to patients and families.

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency triggered by the body's extreme response to an infection. It occurs when an existing infection spurs a chain reaction throughout the body and rapidly leads to tissue damage, organ failure, and death without treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.7 million American adults are diagnosed with sepsis and 350,000 adults die or are discharged to hospice as a result of it every year. Accordingly, 1 in 3 people who die in a hospital had sepsis during that hospitalization and for every hour treatment is delayed, the risk of death increases by 4 percent to 9 percent. This life-threatening medical emergency is the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals.

To raise awareness around this devastating diagnosis, we must educate people, share survivor stories, and support innovation and research. According to the Sepsis Alliance, an estimated 37 percent of U.S. adults have never heard of sepsis, reinforcing the need to arm communities with the resources to recognize and respond to it. Our commitment to accelerating education of the diagnosis must remain a priority to save lives and limbs from sepsis.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the month of September to advocate for patients diagnosed with sepsis and for the tireless work of the families, caretakers, and researchers supporting those who have been impacted by it.

Mr. Speaker, I am certainly grateful to Representative Chris Smith for his leadership.

The Autism CARES Act has made an immeasurable difference in the lives of countless Americans living with either autism, neurodivergence themselves or the family members who support them.

The massive investment made by this Federal Government in research, education, and intervention has not only ensured great advancement in how we diagnose, treat, and assist those living on the autism spectrum, but it has helped to bring dignity to their lives.

I join my colleagues in advocating for the bill. I certainly support the legislation. I do so as a Member of Congress, but I also do so as a father of an adult living on the autism spectrum. I cannot tell you the struggle, the challenge that families like ours and certainly individuals like my daughter have had to face.

Thanks to the Autism CARES Act originally adopted some years ago, now reauthorized, every step along the way we now have a partner in providing and ensuring that those caregivers, those who interact, those who provide care have the tools and the resources necessary to provide dignity and opportunity to her life.

On behalf of my daughter, Abigail Faith Molinaro, I join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and encourage support for the Autism CARES Act reauthorization.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman not only for her leadership but for her support of this legislation as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 6160, the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act.

As we know, over 48 million Americans are caring for someone over the age of 18. Recent reports from the AARP have shown that caregivers have reported increases in stress levels and a decline in overall health.

Respite services offer families much-needed temporary care or supervision for children and adults of all ages with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

As the parent of an adult child with a developmental disability, I know firsthand the value of respite care. Having interacted with many respite care workers, I know how important their work is and how they deserve greater respect and more support.

My bill authorizes the Lifespan Respite Care Program through fiscal year 2029 to provide States with Federal funding to continue to offer these essential services and provide relief to our caregivers.

Authorized by Congress in 2006, the Lifespan Respite Care Program has been a lifeline for our caregivers and provides them with critical assistance so they can recharge and meet their family's needs.

Family caregivers are often the unsung heroes who make personal sacrifices to care for their loved ones. I am proud to work alongside my colleagues to pass this bipartisan Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act and continue to provide caregivers with relief and assistance so they can lead a balanced life while tending to their loved ones.

I would like to extend my appreciation to Congressman Cardenas for his support of this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bipartisan bill.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, you pronounced my name better than my own grandmother.

Mr. Chair, the underlying bill, the Protect America's Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act of 2024, importantly counters the Chinese Communist Party's illegal and grossly unethical practice of stealing trade secrets, economic espionage, and hacking against American companies.

The bill does this, as we note, by establishing a special office at the Department of Justice whose sole purpose is to identify and prosecute those who engage in this illegal behavior. The office will also work to protect critical infrastructure in the United States against external threats from China.

The bill also requires a report from the Attorney General to Congress. My amendment includes in this report an assessment of the economic loss to the United States as a result of hacking and trade secret theft by China.

We currently don't have an accurate number as to how much economic damage the Chinese Communist Party has caused the United States through economic espionage, hacking, and intellectual property theft. My amendment will allow us to quantify the true monetary toll China is causing to our economy and our businesses and allow us to

see how impactful this underlying legislation really is.

The United States is the biggest economy in the world because we encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. China doesn't and instead relies on stealing our innovations, our ideas, for their benefit. This amendment will highlight just how damaging China is to our economy.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague's support of my amendment. I look forward to bipartisan support of the bill in chief, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, my amendment at the desk adds a requirement to the bill in chief that the Department of Justice identifies all cases of intellectual property theft of American small businesses by the Chinese Communist Party. Even in upstate New York, we have businesses that have reported firsthand how their innovations have been completely stolen by the Chinese Communist Party.

Now, just because China doesn't believe in capitalism doesn't mean they can steal our Nation's best and brightest ideas and the hard work of good Americans, all of this created through the opportunities of capitalism and what capitalism provides.

This amendment will help us better understand the true scope to which China is harming our small businesses and our economy and will provide us with information needed to best target the criminal actors behind these cowardly crimes.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to adopt the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague's full-throated endorsement of my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.